Eastside Year in Review 2018: Music

Pop music, in its most organic form, is music that is popular in the context of society and the times. By this definition, the pop music is what defines us, whether we like it or not. Pop songs come and go; some become instant classics while others are lost in the endless supply of new Billboard 100 Hits. 2018 was a year where artists, new and old, showed up and conquered, and without a doubt created pop...

When hiphopheads discuss the best year for rap music, years such at 1988,1996 and 1998 tend to lead the debate. 2018 may soon become apart of the debate after the crazy year that took place. 2018 featured the rise and fall of numerous artist. Cardi B received her fair share of fame after the release of her first studio album Invasion of Privacy which is now nominated for a grammy. 6ix9ine also received acc...

This past year in Electronic/Dance Music, otherwise referred to as EDM, there have been many changes in the way artists release their music. For example, there was a shift across the music industry and artists have been more inclined to release singles and EP’s rather then a full length album. This trend is not brand new and artists such as Zedd, Kygo and Calvin Harris have adopted this method since ...

Ella Mai's’ song “Trip” has been ranked #1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs for ten weeks now and the pleasure was all hers. But the charts don’t stop there. Other topped ranked artists behind her such as Khalid, Tory Lanez, Daniel Caesar, H.E.R and many more, have had the pleasure of sweeping the hearts of thousands of fans all over the globe in 2018. With their soulful voice and intrica...

For years and years, rock music has been a prominent genre in our culture. Although it may not be as big as it has been before, this past year, 2018, is no different. With the rise of artists like Greta Van Fleet and the resurgence of classics like Queen, rock remains a popular genre of music. This past year, some artists and bands in particular have become more popular. Ending the year with a n...

Over the past year, country music has evolved significantly through artists’ modernization of music in the studio and during show production. To begin with, for example, singer and songwriter Sam Hunt is credited with borrowing attitudes and styles, such as “conversational flow,” similar to those in hip-hop. Fans seem to enjoy this as Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road” ruled Billboard’s Hot...

In previous years, alternative rock music has been defined by its “underground” element and  is often individualized by the artist so as to distinguish it from mainstream rock music. In the past year, though, alternative rock has ironically become more mainstream. For example, new albums from artists such as The Neighborhood, The 1975, and Arctic Monkeys received much attention in 2018. In addi...

Broadway is well on its way to being more accessible than ever before. Not in price - Hamilton tickets are still averaging at around $500 - but in the content of the musicals. Recent years have seen an increase in musicals aimed towards younger people that have being going increasingly mainstream (Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen). This year saw the 2004 cult classic Mean Girls adapted into a musical along...

Heralded as the Queen of Rap (by herself), Nicki Minaj has constantly placed herself in the ears of millions of young (maybe old) listeners. There have been a few to have challenge Nicki on her throne for Rap. However, Nicki’s diss tracks (No Fraud) and shoutouts to these rappers have ended the long lasting feud. Unfortunately, this track did not end with the once upcoming star Cardi B. After re...